[Farmsheep99]

Yesterday I had a ewe in labour pushing, but she was vaginally prolapsing so the lamb couldn’t come. Ultimately had to take her into the vet for a c-section. Gave her numbing and went in, one good sized lamb in good spirits. Vet decided to leave placenta in and let the ewe expell it naturally. Stitched her up, gave her a shot of metacam, and gave us 2 more shots for us to administer to her. The vet also put a stitch in her backend to keep the prolapse in. Brought her home and she seemed alright for the rest of the day eating and standing just fine. Now my issue is this morning she has started to expell afterbirth, but she is really pushing and straining. Her backend is very swollen and hard and I’m afraid she may blow her stitches(it is about 20cm long incision). Vets aren’t open until tomorrow. I’m also in Canada if that makes any difference. Wondering if anyone has any experience with this. Tia

[shep53]

Can you not speak to a vet on the phone ,they may say wait and as some ewes can put a lot of effort into pushing out the placenta or they may say cut the vaginal stitch but are you sure shes not prolapsing

[Farmsheep99]

Can you not speak to a vet on the phone ,they may say wait and as some ewes can put a lot of effort into pushing out the placenta or they may say cut the vaginal stitch but are you sure shes not prolapsing

Hi it’s the weekend and there is only one get on call, she is always busy and can never get to the phone, I could wait until tomorrow morning when the vet opens, but I’m hoping to maybe get some advice here to help her in the meantime. I think the vet needs to have another look at her but she isn’t my sheep. The stitch is in so she can’t prolapse, maybe is she pushing it out and it’s stretching her backend since the stitch is there. I know some push the afterbirth out but she is really pushing all day. I feel terribly bad for her I can’t even eat.

[Farmsheep99]

UPDATE: in case anyone is wondering the outcome. My dad and sister were the ones to take her to the vet for the c-section, I was not there to witness. I couldn’t believe with how big she was that she only had one lamb! After seeing her at home pushing and pushing I had a feel around her backend and had a very strong feeling that there was still a lamb inside her or that something was wrong inside. Finally got a hold of the vet this morning and brought her in. Low and behold I was right. There was another lamb inside of her that my girl had been trying to push out all day, due to the stitch she could not push it out. Vet cut the stitch and pulled the lamb, dead of course. I am at a loss , I feel so terribly bad that I didn’t get ahold of the vet sooner. Outcome for my ewe is not looking good:’(

[landroverroy]

That's pretty awful that the vet didn't automatically check for another lamb while there.


Hopefully the ewe will recover from the horrible situation and at least you have one  live lamb.
I have actually had a ewe manage to lamb  without difficulty while still stitched to prevent prolapsing. I can only assume by your whole situation that the vet was pretty inexperienced.

[SallyintNorth]

That's pretty awful that the vet didn't automatically check for another lamb while there.

This.  We go to vets because they are the professionals.  No way should you feel bad that you took a while to realise your ewe still had a lamb inside her after a c-section.  Rather, congratulations for working it out when it was just about the last thing anyone could or should have expected.

I'm kind of speechless, actually.

[Richmond]

Absolutely do not blame yourself. It is the vet that is at fault. What a horrible scenario. Really hope the ewe makes it but I'm guessing you'll be seeking compensation if she doesn't.

[shep53]

WOW   

[Farmsheep99]

Hopefully the ewe will recover from the horrible situation and at least you have one  live lamb.
I have actually had a ewe manage to lamb  without difficulty while still stitched to prevent prolapsing. I can only assume by your whole situation that the vet was pretty inexperienced.

Wow I’m surprised that your ewe managed to lamb with the stitch in. There was no way mine could lamb I could only fit 2 fingers in with the stitch pulled in and tightened. I am also assuming the vet is inexperienced, it is only the second time we have brought a ewe to her, but she is a large animal vet so I would think a c-section on sheep is about the same as on a cow.

[Farmsheep99]

This.  We go to vets because they are the professionals.  No way should you feel bad that you took a while to realise your ewe still had a lamb inside her after a c-section.  Rather, congratulations for working it out when it was just about the last thing anyone could or should have expected.

I'm kind of speechless, actually.

Thank you for the kind words, it makes me feel better about the situation. I agree with everything you said here. We were going to try to figure it out in our own but figured we better call the vet and have a pro do it so that we wouldn’t have to deal with any unexpected crap. Little did we know...

[Farmsheep99]

Absolutely do not blame yourself. It is the vet that is at fault. What a horrible scenario. Really hope the ewe makes it but I'm guessing you'll be seeking compensation if she doesn't.

Thank you for validating the way I feel, even though it wasn’t my fault I still feel very guilty. I hope she makes it as well she is such a trooper. The vet said when he pressed on her skin he could hear it crackle which is a sign of bad infection. I most definitely would like to seek compensation for not only her but also the lamb that was left inside of her.